When Amelia Hamilton-Morris and her husband William were starting a family, they had to choose between living in Iowa, where his family had settled three generations earlier, or in her native Houston. They eventually decided to raise their children in Iowa’s capital city, Des Moines, because it boasted good schools, affordable housing and a strong sense of community. Two children and 17 years later, Hamilton-Morris is still enthusiastic about their decision.

“You feel safe all the time, and people are extremely friendly,” says Hamilton-Morris, a spokeswoman for the City of Des Moines. “The commute is not long; even if you live at the far end of the city, you’re only talking about 12 to 15 minutes to downtown.”

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